1.1. Contact organisation
The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Health Statistics Unit of Department of Research and Health Statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Duntes Street 22, K-5, Riga, Latvia, LV-1005
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
16 July 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
27 June 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
27 June 2025
3.1. Data description
Data on causes of death (COD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.
COD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".
Causes of death are classified by the 86 causes of the "European shortlist" of causes of death. This shortlist is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
COD data are derived from death certificates. The medical certification of death is an obligation in all Member States. Countries code the information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death into ICD codes according to the rules specified in the ICD.
Data are broken down by sex, 5-year age groups, cause of death and by residency and country of occurrence. For stillbirths and neonatal deaths additional breakdows might include age of mother.
Annual national data are provided in absolute number, crude death rates and standardised death rates. At regional level (NUTS level 2) the same is provided in form of 3 years averages. Annual crude death rates are also available at NUTS level 2.
3.2. Classification system
| Data year | ICD revision used (ICD-8, ICD-9, ICD-10) | For ICD-10: updates used |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ICD-9 | |
| 1991 | ICD-9 | |
| 1992 | ICD-9 | |
| 1993 | ICD-9 | |
| 1994 | ICD-9 | |
| 1995 | ICD-9 | |
| 1996 | ICD-10 | |
| 1997 | ICD-10 | |
| 1998 | ICD-10 | |
| 1999 | ICD-10 | |
| 2000 | ICD-10 | |
| 2001 | ICD-10 | |
| 2002 | ICD-10 | |
| 2003 | ICD-10 | |
| 2004 | ICD-10 | |
| 2005 | ICD-10 | ICD-10 Second Edition, Geneva, 2004 |
| 2006 | ICD-10 | ICD-10 Second Edition, Geneva, 2004 |
| 2007 | ICD-10 | ICD-10 Cumulative Updates 1996-2006 |
| 2008 | ICD-10 | Amendments March 2008 (NHCS) |
| 2009 | ICD-10 | Updates 2007 |
| 2010 | ICD-10 | Cumulative official updates to ICD-10 WHO February 2009 |
| 2011 | ICD-10 | Cumulative official updates to ICD-10 WHO February 2009 |
| 2012 | ICD-10 | Cumulative official updates to ICD-10 WHO January 2011 |
| 2013 | ICD-10 | Cumulative official updates to ICD-10 WHO January 2011 |
| 2014 | ICD-10 | Cumulative official updates to ICD-10 WHO January 2011 |
| 2015 | ICD-10 | Cumulative official updates to ICD-10 WHO January 2011 |
| 2016 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 |
| 2017 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 |
| 2018 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 |
| 2019 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 |
| 2020 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 with official updates |
| 2021 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 with official updates |
| 2022 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 with official updates |
| 2023 | ICD-10 | Fifth edition 2016 with official updates |
3.3. Coverage - sector
Public Health.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
1. National definition used for usual residency
Resident population refers to persons permanently residing in Latvia and residents of Republic of Latvia residing abroad for a period less than one year.
2. Stillbirths
a) National definition used for stillbirths
Stillbirth – is foetus born lifeless after 22 weeks of pregnancy (after 154 days, when weight of foetus is 500 g, usually). Death is confirmed with fact that foetus is not breathing after separation from mother and showing no evidence of life as heart activity, pulsation of umbilical cord or motion of muscles.
b) What are the characteristics that you collect (gestational age, weight, crown-heel)?
We collect gestational age, weight and crown-heel.
3.4.1. National definition used for usual residency
Resident population refers to persons permanently residing in Latvia and residents of Republic of Latvia residing abroad for a period less than one year.
3.4.2. Stillbirth definition and characteristics collected
Stillbirths
a) National definition used for stillbirths
Stillbirth – is foetus born lifeless after 22 weeks of pregnancy (after 154 days, when weight of foetus is 500 g, usually). Death is confirmed with fact that foetus is not breathing after separation from mother and showing no evidence of life as heart activity, pulsation of umbilical cord or motion of muscles.
b) What are the characteristics that you collect (gestational age, weight, crown-heel)?
We collect gestational age, weight and crown-heel.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical units are the deceased persons and the stillborns, respectively.
3.6. Statistical population
1. Neonates: Are neonatals of non-resident mothers considered residents?
Neonatal of non-resident mother considered resident when father is resident. When both mother and father is non-residents – non-resident.
2. Coverage
a) Do you include non-residents in your national statistics?
No
b) Do you include residents dying abroad in your national statistics? If yes, how do you record the cause of death?
Yes, we record them as died abroad - if we receive a medical certificate or certificate of death. In case we have no information about cause of death, the recorded cause of death is R99.
3.6.1. Neonates of non-resident mothers
Neonatal of non-resident mother considered resident when father is resident. When both mother and father is non-residents – non-resident.
3.6.2. Non-residents
Mortality registry contain information about non-residents' deaths.
3.6.3. Residents dying abroad
The data about residents dying abroad are included in the Mortality registry in case if such information has received. Most often is missing the information about cause of death, external cause of death. The information abot sex, age and month of death is more or less available.
3.7. Reference area
Latvia
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series available from 1996 onwards.
3.9. Base period
Constant series refers to calendar year.
The data are published in absolute numbers, crude death rate and standardised death rate.
Data refer to the calendar year (i.e. all deaths occurring during the year).
The last reference year provided 2023.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Countries submitted data to Eurostat on the basis of a gentleman's agreement established in the framework Eurostat's Working Group on "Public Health Statistics" until data with reference year 2010. The first data submitted according to the Regulation (EU) No 328/2011 is data with reference year 2011.
A Regulation on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work (EC) No 1338/2008 was signed by the European Parliament and the Council on 16 December 2008. This Regulation is the framework of the data collection on the domain.
Within the context of this framework Regulation, a Regulation on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work, as regards statistics on causes of death (EU) No 328/2011 was signed by the European Parliament and the Council on 5 April 2011.
Legal acts that assign responsibility as well as the authority to the CDPC for the collection, processing, and dissemination of statistics.
Statistics Law,
Law on Registration of Civil Status Acts,
Republic of Latvia, Cabinet Regulation No.761, Regulations Regarding Registers of Civil Status Acts.
Republic of Latvia, Cabinet Regulation No. 241, By-laws of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
ESTAT, WHO, EUDA, ECDC.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
Law on the Rights of Patients.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
All age groups showing a total mortality of less than 4 cases are considered as confidential. Therefore, any 'confidential' age group is grouped with another one to have higher numbers. In practice, this problem mainly occurs for young ages so, either the ages from 0 to 14 years old, or the ages from 0 to 14 and 15 to 24 years old are grouped. The age groups considered as confidential show then the value ':' and the age group '0-14y' (and '15-24y' if needed) shows the sum of all ages before 15 years old (or between 15 and 24 years old). In addition, special measures for ensuring confidentiality may be taken for small countries.
For stillbirth and neonatal figures, no breakdown by parity is displayed to ensure confidentiality.
8.1. Release calendar
The data is released according to the release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calendar can be accessed on the CDPC and Official Statistics Portal homepage.
8.3. Release policy - user access
The data release policy is based on publication calendar. All data users have equal access to information when data will be available, what are the definitions and metadata.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
News releases on-line.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Annual data published on homepage.
Data Presentation System (contain data for 1989-2017).
Health Statistics Database (contain data for 2008-2025).
Official Statistics Portal (contain data for 2008-2023).
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Please consult free data on-line or refer to contact details.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not available
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Micro-data are not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not available
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not available.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological documents are available together with published data.
Causes of death | Oficiālās statistikas portāls
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
100%
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The quality of COD data is subject to the way in which the information on causes of death is reported and classified in each country (i.e. national certification and coding procedures). In general, all countries follow the standards and rules specified in the ICD, and the overall procedures for the collection of COD data are relatively homogenous between European countries (medical certification of cause of death, use of ICD).
However, national differences in interpretation and use of ICD rules exist and as a result important quality and comparability issues remain. Based on the report "Comparability and Quality Improvement of the European Causes of Death Statistics" countries work towards further improving certification and coding procedures.
Ongoing work is reported to Eurostat's Working Group "Public Health Statistics" (documents available on circabc).
11.1. Quality assurance
The causes of death data are based on a regulation, which defines scope, definitions of variables and characteristics of the data.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Each year, the data from the Latvia population's cause of death database is compared with the information held by the Central Statistical Bureau and the State Forensic Medical Examination Centre regarding deceased individuals, and adjustments are made if necessary.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Based on the 34 answers received from the web survey, the main users are Research Institutes, Universities, Public Government agencies, Private, Commission services and Business companies. On these 34 answers, Eurostat data on Causes of Death are "essential", "important", or "used for background information" for 25 respondents.
Asking about the availability of needed data in the Eurostat production, users are divided in two equivalent part: 12 answered that they do not need statistics on the field not currently available from Eurostat and 13 answered that they need, giving information about defects and lacks of the Eurostat data.
The main mortality data users in Latvia are:
- Ministry of Health.
- Other state institutions.
- Self-governments.
- Health Registries.
- Universities.
- Insurance companies.
- Researchers.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Users were asked to assess each of the classical elements that characterise the quality of statistics.
Respondents generally give high scores to the different dimensions of data quality and to the supporting service that is perceived as "Good or Very Good" by the users (14 out of 21 respondents expressing opinions about this). The overall quality, comprising both data quality and supporting service, is perceived as "Good" or "Very good" by 16 out of 24 respondents to those questions.
Among different data quality dimensions, coherence and comparability receive the higher satisfaction. The less appreciated dimension is the completeness.
There are no user satisfaction surveys or other user consultations performed in Latvia.
12.3. Completeness
All data received are disseminated on Eurostat's website.
The only problem is data about death cases for persons deceased abroad. This information is not received completely yet. We are improving the data flow, to get information about deceased persons abroad too.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Mandatory variables are provided completely.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
All known death cases are registered.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
No errors in sample estimates which cannot be attributed to sampling fluctuations recorded.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Underreporting, which is based on deaths occurring abroad, accounts for approximately 1%.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
In Latvia, mortality data are obtained solely from administrative sources. Surveys are not used to collect or validate mortality data. Therefore, the proportion of common units between administrative and survey data sources is not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Common Sources of Error:
- Misclassification of the Underlying Cause of Death:
Physicians record the immediate or contributing cause instead of the true underlying cause, especially in complex or multi-morbidity cases. - Inaccurate or Incomplete Death Certificates:
Errors result from vague descriptions, missing information, or illegible handwriting on paper-based certificates. - Coding Errors:
Human error during manual ICD-10 coding or selection of the underlying cause may lead to inconsistencies. - Lack of Autopsy or Diagnostic Evidence:
When diagnostic confirmation (e.g. via autopsy or medical records) is not available, the cause of death may be uncertain or inaccurately recorded.
Actions Taken to Reduce Measurement Errors:
- Standardized Medical Certification:
Latvia uses a standardized death certificate format aligned with WHO guidelines, which helps improve clarity and consistency. - Training for Physicians:
Ongoing individual training is provided to healthcare professionals on how to correctly identify and report the underlying cause of death. - Automated and Manual Coding Checks:
CDPC applies software tool (IRIS) for ICD-10 coding and carries out additional manual validation of selected cases. - Data Quality Controls:
CDPC and Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) perform routine plausibility checks, outlier detection, and consistency analysis across years and regions. - Use of Updated Medical Information:
In cases where the cause of death is not clearly determined, CDPC contacts the physician who issued the death certificate to obtain additional medical information and clarify data quality.
13.3.3. Non response error
The most often missing variables are: duration of illness, information about smoking habits, data on surgeries, and whether an autopsy was performed.
Efforts to Reduce Nonresponse and Missing Data:
- Standardized data collection procedures: Ensuring uniform reporting across all regions and healthcare providers.
- Training and guidance for physicians: Emphasizing the importance of complete and accurate reporting on death certificates.
- Follow-up with data providers: Contacting certifying physicians or local authorities to clarify or complete missing information.
- An electronic reporting system is currently being developed to replace paper-based submissions and minimise related delays and errors, but it is not yet in use.
Treatment of Nonresponse and Missing Data
- Imputation methods: In some cases, statistical techniques are applied to estimate missing values based on available data patterns.
- Data quality assessments: Routine checks to identify missing data patterns and assess their potential impact on results.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
There are no units with unusable information. In case some information is missing, we contact the unit to get the necessary information.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
There are no item non-response units.
13.3.4. Processing error
To reduce processing errors, automated validation tools, manual checks, and data quality control procedures are applied.
There are no significant processing errors recorded.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
From data collection with reference year 2011 onwards, Eurostat asks for the submission of final data for the year N at N+18 months.
The release of the CoD data at national level is 8 months (between the end of the reference year and the release of the CoD data).
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
The time lag of publication of first results (preliminary data) of the CoD data at national level is 3 months.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
The time lag of publication of complete and final results of the CoD data at national level is 8 months (between the end of the reference year and the release of the CoD data).
14.2. Punctuality
From data collection with reference year 2011 onwards, Eurostat asks for the submission of final data at national and regional level and related metadata for the year N at N+24 months, according to the Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 328/2011, Article 4.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
| Reference year | Time between the end of the reference year and the delivery of final data to EUROSTAT |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 18 |
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable between the regions of the country.
The process of collecting, coding, transmission the data is the same for all regions.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The comparability of the data over time in the National database is from 1996.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The data before and after 2011 are not always comparable due to the fact that 2011 data is the first data collection with a legal basis and there were some changes in the requested variables and breakdowns.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The main problem is the loss of medical information for deaths of residents of Latvia registered abroad. There are around 1% of missing certificates for deaths registered abroad, as all find cases are registered. We are working to get the missing information about deceased abroad.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Statistics of different frequencies are reconcilable. The preliminary data are being updated, that makes correct annual statistics.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
All known deaths are registered in the death registry. There are no inconsistencies between the neonates information provided in the General mortality dataset and in the Stillbirths and neonates dataset.
The cost and burden of the data collection is reduced by using validation and dissemination IT tools.
A nationally coordinated initiative is currently underway in Latvia to enhance the interoperability and efficiency of data exchange on causes of death. The project includes the planned implementation of electronic death certificates to replace paper forms, which is expected to reduce errors, speed up data flow, and improve accessibility.
In addition, data validation and verification systems with built-in algorithms help detect inconsistencies at the data entry stage.
Secure ICT infrastructure enables efficient data exchange between institutions such as the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC), the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), and the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), supporting better public health monitoring, policy-making, and research.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Causes of death data in Latvia may be revised after initial publication if new information becomes available or errors are detected. Revisions aim to improve accuracy and reflect updated medical or coding data. Updated figures are typically released in the next regular publication cycle. Final annual data are considered stable and are not subject to major changes.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data is systematically revised with Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Data are occasionally revised, e.g. if the population or "NUTS" changes or if a country notifies Eurostat about any changes in the data.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected by two certificates - Medical death certificate and Medical perinatal death certificate.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Civil registry offices submit death certificates once a month.
18.3. Data collection
| 1. Automated Coding | ||
|---|---|---|
| Data year | a) Did you use any form of automated coding? [Yes / No] | b) If yes, please indicate the system used (IRIS, MICAR, ACME, STYX, MIKADO, others) |
| 1990 | No | |
| 1991 | No | |
| 1992 | No | |
| 1993 | No | |
| 1994 | No | |
| 1995 | No | |
| 1996 | No | |
| 1997 | No | |
| 1998 | No | |
| 1999 | No | |
| 2000 | No | |
| 2001 | No | |
| 2002 | No | |
| 2003 | No | |
| 2004 | No | |
| 2005 | No | |
| 2006 | Yes | ACME |
| 2007 | Yes | ACME |
| 2008 | Yes | ACME |
| 2009 | Yes | ACME |
| 2010 | Yes | ACME |
| 2011 | Yes | ACME |
| 2012 | Yes | ACME |
| 2013 | Yes | ACME |
| 2014 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2015 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2016 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2017 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2018 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2019 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2020 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2021 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2022 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2023 | Yes | ACME + IRIS |
| 2. Underlying cause of death selection and modification | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data year | a) only manual selection of underlying cause | b) manual with ACME decision tables (if yes, which version of ACME) | c) ACS utilising ACME decision tables (if yes, which version of ACME) | d) own system (ACS without ACME) | e) Comments |
| 1990 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1991 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1992 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1993 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1994 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1995 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1996 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1997 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1998 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 1999 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2000 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2001 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2002 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2003 | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2004 | Yes | Yes | No | No | Partly, Instruction Manual Part 2c 2004 CDC USA |
| 2005 | No | Yes, 2005 | No | No | The whole year, Instruction Manual Part 2c 2005 CDC USA |
| 2006 | No | Yes, 2005; for external causes and perinatal deaths |
ACME 2006.03 | No | Half a year with ACS ACME |
| 2007 | No | Yes, 2006; for external causes and perinatal deaths |
ACME 2007.02 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2008 | No | ICD-10 ACME 2008 (in particular cases) | ACME 2008.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2009 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME 2009.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2010 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2011 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2012 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2013 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2014 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2015 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with ACME |
| 2016 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2017 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2018 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2019 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2020 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2021 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2022 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 2023 | No | For external causes, perinatal deaths | ACME/TRANSAX Version 2010.10 | No | Fully time with IRIS |
| 3. Information available in the national COD database | |
|---|---|
| Data year | Which information do you store in your national COD database - the underlying cause (UC) only or multiple causes (MC)? |
| 1990 | There is no data |
| 1991 | There is no data |
| 1992 | There is no data |
| 1993 | There is no data |
| 1994 | There is no data |
| 1995 | There is no data |
| 1996 | UC |
| 1997 | UC |
| 1998 | UC |
| 1999 | UC + MC |
| 2000 | UC + MC |
| 2001 | UC + MC |
| 2002 | UC + MC |
| 2003 | UC + MC |
| 2004 | UC + MC |
| 2005 | UC + MC |
| 2006 | UC + MC |
| 2007 | UC + MC |
| 2008 | UC + MC |
| 2009 | UC + MC |
| 2010 | UC + MC |
| 2011 | UC + MC |
| 2012 | UC + MC |
| 2013 | UC + MC |
| 2014 | UC + MC |
| 2015 | UC + MC |
| 2016 | UC + MC |
| 2017 | UC + MC |
| 2018 | UC + MC |
| 2019 | UC + MC |
| 2020 | UC + MC |
| 2021 | UC + MC |
| 2022 | UC + MC |
| 2023 | UC + MC |
4. Stillbirths and Neonates: Do you have a different death certificate or do you code these data differently from other deaths? If yes, how?
a) Stillbirths
For perinatal deaths (stillbirths and children aged less than 7 days) we use separate certificate of death.
b) Neonates
For neonates aged less than 7 days we use separate death certificate, and for neonates 7-27 days old we use general Medical certificate of cause of death.
18.3.1. Certification
See in 18.3.
18.3.2. Automated Coding
See in 18.3.
18.3.3. Underlying cause of death
See in 18.3.
18.3.4. Availability of multiple cause
See in 18.3.
18.3.5. Stillbirths and Neonatal certificates
See in 18.3.
18.4. Data validation
The coding is only on the Central level. Data comparison is performed with other available data sources. Certificates are updated after the consultation with certifiers. The information from all autopsies is available for coding. Double coding exercises are performed within activities of Nordic-Baltic Mortality group.
18.4.1. Coding
Description of coding procedure (central level, distributed among other bodies, etc.):
Central level.
Description of the procedures to detect errors (i.e.errors such as potential inconsistency in the death certificate or error due to mistake when filling the deaths certificates):
Data comparison with other available data sources.
Description of the measures taken in order to solve detected errors:
Consultation with certifiers, certificates' updating.
Coding performed by a certifier:
Not applicable. The coding is only on the central level.
Estimation of the percentage of autopsy from which information is available for coding:
Information from all autopsies are available for coding.
Description of double coding exercises and rate of codification errors for underlying cause of death:
Double coding exercises are performed within activities of Nordic-Baltic Mortality group.
18.4.2. Unspecified CoD code
Unspecified CoD codes for residents and non-residents who died in the country - 31,5%.
18.4.3. Unknown country or region
Not available.
18.4.4. Validation of the coverage
Register of Natural Persons.
18.5. Data compilation
CDPC of Latvia is in charge of data compilation.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
WHO and EUROSTAT coding rules are used to reach international standards.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No comment.
Data on causes of death (COD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.
COD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".
Causes of death are classified by the 86 causes of the "European shortlist" of causes of death. This shortlist is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
COD data are derived from death certificates. The medical certification of death is an obligation in all Member States. Countries code the information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death into ICD codes according to the rules specified in the ICD.
Data are broken down by sex, 5-year age groups, cause of death and by residency and country of occurrence. For stillbirths and neonatal deaths additional breakdows might include age of mother.
Annual national data are provided in absolute number, crude death rates and standardised death rates. At regional level (NUTS level 2) the same is provided in form of 3 years averages. Annual crude death rates are also available at NUTS level 2.
27 June 2025
1. National definition used for usual residency
Resident population refers to persons permanently residing in Latvia and residents of Republic of Latvia residing abroad for a period less than one year.
2. Stillbirths
a) National definition used for stillbirths
Stillbirth – is foetus born lifeless after 22 weeks of pregnancy (after 154 days, when weight of foetus is 500 g, usually). Death is confirmed with fact that foetus is not breathing after separation from mother and showing no evidence of life as heart activity, pulsation of umbilical cord or motion of muscles.
b) What are the characteristics that you collect (gestational age, weight, crown-heel)?
We collect gestational age, weight and crown-heel.
The statistical units are the deceased persons and the stillborns, respectively.
1. Neonates: Are neonatals of non-resident mothers considered residents?
Neonatal of non-resident mother considered resident when father is resident. When both mother and father is non-residents – non-resident.
2. Coverage
a) Do you include non-residents in your national statistics?
No
b) Do you include residents dying abroad in your national statistics? If yes, how do you record the cause of death?
Yes, we record them as died abroad - if we receive a medical certificate or certificate of death. In case we have no information about cause of death, the recorded cause of death is R99.
Latvia
Data refer to the calendar year (i.e. all deaths occurring during the year).
The last reference year provided 2023.
All known death cases are registered.
The data are published in absolute numbers, crude death rate and standardised death rate.
CDPC of Latvia is in charge of data compilation.
Data are collected by two certificates - Medical death certificate and Medical perinatal death certificate.
Annual.
From data collection with reference year 2011 onwards, Eurostat asks for the submission of final data for the year N at N+18 months.
The release of the CoD data at national level is 8 months (between the end of the reference year and the release of the CoD data).
The data are comparable between the regions of the country.
The process of collecting, coding, transmission the data is the same for all regions.
The comparability of the data over time in the National database is from 1996.
